News Roundup — Dubai Leads with Crypto Payments, Tether Mints $2B, Robinhood Expands

Major news stories this week;

1. Dubai to allow crypto payments for government services in world's first
2. Tether-backed Twenty One Capital purchases $458.7 million worth of bitcoin
3. Bahrain-based AlAbraaj Restaurants adopts Bitcoin treasury strategy
4. Robinhood woos Canadian crypto users with nearly $180 million WonderFi purchase
5. Tether Mints $2 Billion USDT on Tron, Surpassing Ethereum and Reaching $15B in 2025 Issuance

Story Summaries;

1. Dubai is set to become the first government to allow crypto payments across a wide range of public services, following a landmark partnership with Crypto.com. Residents will soon be able to pay fees using digital assets, positioning Dubai as a global leader in crypto adoption. The move is part of the city’s broader strategy to integrate blockchain into its financial infrastructure.
2. Twenty One Capital, supported by Tether, SoftBank, and Cantor Fitzgerald, has acquired 4,812 BTC worth $458.7 million. The purchase marks a major step in institutional crypto adoption and aligns with a growing trend of using Bitcoin as a long-term reserve asset. The move highlights rising confidence in BTC’s role in modern treasury management.
3. UAE-based Alabraaj has launched a Bitcoin treasury strategy, joining a growing number of institutions using BTC to hedge against inflation and currency volatility. The move reflects the region’s increasing embrace of crypto as part of long-term financial planning, backed by supportive regulatory momentum in the UAE.
4. Robinhood is acquiring Canadian crypto firm WonderFi for nearly $180 million, gaining control of Bitbuy and Coinsquare in a push to scale its global crypto presence. The deal marks a 41% premium and signals renewed momentum in North American crypto M&A. Robinhood aims to tap into Canada’s rising retail and institutional crypto demand through this strategic move.
5. Tether minted $2 billion worth of USDT on the Tron network in a single day, pushing its 2025 issuance to $15 billion and total circulation above $151 billion. This latest surge makes Tron the leading network for USDT, surpassing Ethereum, and reflects Tether’s dominance in the stablecoin market amid rising demand for faster, lower-fee transactions.
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And that’s all for last week’s news! Wishing you a great week ahead!